Cigarette-rolling kit system and method

ABSTRACT

A cigarette-rolling kit system and method for forming a cigarette with shredded leaf enclosed in rolling paper, providing a forming block having a major-arcuate trough and a semicircular trough, a pushing tab, a leveling slider, a tamping cylinder, and a leaf shreds preparation tool, where the major-arcuate trough retains the forming cigarette and guides the initial rolling, and the semicircular trough guides the final rolling.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides a cigarette-rolling kit system and method for forming a cigarette with shredded leaf enclosed in rolling paper.

The rolling of cigarettes, as contrasted with purchasing pre-manufactured cigarettes, is a long-standing and popular method of producing cigarettes for a variety of reasons, including cost and tax considerations, the ability to control the content, quality, and choice of the shredded leaf, and the avoidance of the chemicals and adulterants that are added to pre-manufactured cigarettes.

The proper rolling of cigarettes requires some skill, knowledge, and dexterity beyond the experience or abilities of some people. Under circumstances where cigarettes are desired to be made uniformly in terms of the amount of shredded leaf and the size and shape of the cigarettes, such as when cigarettes are used for measured delivery of volatile substances, unaided hand rolling of cigarettes might be unsuitable.

What is needed is a kit to assist and guide the hand rolling of cigarettes for persons who lack the skill, knowledge, or dexterity required for un-assisted hand rolling, or where uniformity of the formed cigarettes is of importance.

U.S. Pat. No. 228,117 for a “Cigarette-Mold,” issued on May 25, 1880 to inventor Carl J. Renz, provides for a cigarette mold that consists of a bed piece having a lengthwise groove and two compressing-lids, which are hinged at the respective sides of said groove, and one of them provided with an extension consisting of a metal plate whose curve or conformation is similar to the groove in the bed-piece, so that when said lids are closed the tobacco will be compressed in the paper envelope or wrapper. The cigarette mold further consists in the form of the top of the instrument or mold and the application of sliding clamps thereto for holding the compressing-lids closed when desired, said clamps being prevented from becoming detached. The cigarette mold even further consists in providing the ends of the bed-piece or body of the mold with cylindrical blocks, which project into the mold-cavity and serve as stops and supports for the hinged lids when closed, and also determine the length of the cigarettes. The provided mold is used as follows: it is held in the left hand, with both lids open and thrown back. A paper or other wrapper is then laid across the latter so that one edge will extend about three-sixteenths of an inch over the metal extension, and is held tight against the same by the thumb of the left hand. The tobacco is then placed on the wrapper and crowded down into the groove in the bed-piece. Then the lid is closed and firmly pressed down on the blocks when the cover is closed gently, the cover being opened a little to allow the metal extension to pass down and carry with it the inside end of the wrapper into the groove win the bed-piece. The lids being then both pressed firmly together, the desired shape and compression will be imparted. The edge of the wrapper which projects between the lids is then wet with a brush and the lid opened to allow such edge to be folded on and secured to the body of the cigarette. The cigarette is then complete, and may be detached from the mold.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,783,882 for a “Device for Filling Cigarette Tubes,” issued on Jan. 8, 1974 to inventors Rudolf Messner et al., provides for a device for filling cigarette tubes or cigarette filter tubes, and comprises of a housing with a chamber for pressing tobacco, the chamber being arranged in the longitudinal direction of the housing and having the shape of a first half shell fixed in the housing. A press bar in a hinged lid covers the housing and forms the second half shell on the side of the lid. An ejector slide for ejecting a compressed tobacco plug into a paper tube is provided.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,932,936 for a “Pocket Cigarette Maker,” issued on Oct. 31, 1933 to inventor Rawley D. Linthicum, provides for a cigarette maker that comprises generally three elements, namely, a bottom form or outside casing, a bottom tongue or paper holder, and a top form or tongue. The bottom form or casing comprises a generally tubular member, one side of which is open, terminating in the edges. The said casing may be semi-cylindrical, but it is preferable to make the same larger than or more enclosed than a semi-cylinder, so that the open edges come higher than at the extremities of a diameter. One end of casing is provided with an end stop and preferably also with a handle. The end stop closes one end of the casing so as to prevent the escape of tobacco therefrom, and the handle may assume any desired shape and is intended merely to facilitate holding and manipulating the device during the formation of a cigarette. The end stop and handle are formed by continuing the tube and driving within the same a solid cylindrical plug of material. The lower face of the said plug is preferably cut away, thereby forming a slot or recess the object of which is to receive and hold the open end of the bottom tongue. The bottom tongue or paper holder consists of a thin preferably metallic element of arcuate cross section. The top form or tongue consists of a strip of metal which is arcuate in cross section and which has thinned or skived edges, much as in the case of the paper holder, except that the end is not pointed and is short enough to come within the end stop of casing. The opposite end is provided with means acting as an end stop and as a handle for manipulation of the member.

U.S. Pat. No. 194,944 for an “Improvement in the Manufacture of Cigars,” issued on Sep. 4, 1877 to inventor George W. Writner, claims the process of manufacturing cigars of the ordinary tapered shape, consisting in first enveloping the filling in a temporary binder, which filling thus bound is pressed in a mold, removed therefrom, divested of its binder, and finally hand-wrapped.

U.S. Pat. No. 325,062 for a “Method of Manufacturing Cigars,” issued on Aug. 25, 1885 to inventor Nicolaus Doetsch, provides for a process of first, charging a cigar-mold with a binder and a measured amount of filler, the ends of the binder projecting unequally; secondly, lapping the projecting ends of the binder over the filler, with the longer end on the outside; and, thirdly, completing the lap while the bunch is still in said mold by forcing the outer end of the binder between the cigar and the side of the mold, whereby the bunch is completely wrapped in a single mold.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,771,793 for a “Compact Cigarette Making Machine,” issued on Sep. 20, 1988 to inventor Arnold Kastner, provides for a compact cigarette making machine that consists of a hollow channel-shaped base carrying a tobacco receiving member which is longitudinally slideable within the base. A cover is pivotally secured to the tobacco receiving member and is slidable therewith with respect to the base. An elongate tobacco injection spoon is removably carried by the base and is stationary therewith, as a hollow circular nipple for reception of a preformed cigarette tube is provided at the forward end of the tobacco receiving member. A tobacco receiving slot is provided in the tobacco receiving member and the cover is provided with a projection for compacting tobacco positioned in the slot. With the cover closed and tobacco positioned in the slot and a cigarette tube positioned on the nipple, rearward movement of the cover and tobacco receiving member with respect to the base results in the injection of a compacted wad of tobacco into the cigarette tube. The spoon and nipple which are the components most subject to gumming by the tobacco are easily removed for cleaning or replacement.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,276,719 for a “Cigarette-Making Device,” issued on Mar. 17, 1942 to inventor Joseph Napoleon Daudelin, provides for a cigarette-making device essentially consisting of a former tube comprised of two separate members called respectively the top section and the lower section. Both of said sections are adapted to cooperate together, in order to form a cylinder or tube adapted to receive tobacco, which tobacco is later to be transferred to a paper tube slipped over the exterior of said former tube.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,307,003 for a “Cigarette Maker,” issued on Jun. 17, 1919 to inventor Louis Friedberg, claims a cigarette maker comprising a body grooved to provide a recess having an arcuate bottom and straight sides, said member being adapted to receive and retain tobacco when in a horizontal position with the open side of the recess uppermost, a cover coextensive with said body, a projecting rib on said cover adapted to be disposed between the straight sides of said recess and having its lower edge concaved to coact with the arcuate bottom of the recess to form a substantially cylindrical bore, the sides of the cover laterally of said rib engaging the top edges of said body for limiting the projection of said rib thereinto, a tubular shell supporting member secured upon one end of said body coaxially with the bore therein, and a pusher disposed within said bore and movable to discharge tobacco compressed within said bore through said tubular member into a shell supported thereon.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,206,006 for a “Manual Packing Device for Cigarette Tubes, in Particular Cigarette Filter Tubes with a Variable-Length Tobacco Packing Chamber Hand Filling Device for Cigarette Tubes, Particularly Filter Cigarette Tubes, with a Tobacco Press Chamber Variable in Length,” issued on Mar. 27, 2001 to inventors Gunter Schütze, provides for a hand filling device for cigarette tubes, particularly for filter cigarette tubes, with a tobacco press chamber extending in the longitudinal direction thereof, which is formed by a casing located in the base portion, a press head provided on a lid covering the casing and hinged to the casing, an ejector slide for ejecting a tobacco skein pressed in a tobacco chamber via an opening provided in the casing into a (filter) cigarette tube, of a clamp device, which holds the (filter) cigarette tube in a clamping manner on a socket located at the outlet of the tobacco press chamber, and of a resiliently-engaging, snap-in or the like device for detachable connection of casing and lid. In order to adapt the filling length of the tobacco chamber, there is associated with the ejector slide an off-settable stop means, by means of which the tobacco filling position of the ejector slide is alterable, adapting to the desired filling length of the tobacco press chamber.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,978,789 for a “Convertible Compact Cigarette Making Machine,” issued on Dec. 27, 2005 to inventor Gary Garbarino, provides for a compact cigarette making machine for inserting a quantity of tobacco into a preformed cigarette tube. A tobacco receiving member is slidably retained within a base and movable longitudinally thereon to load tobacco into a cigarette tube secured to a nipple at its forward end. A cover is pivotally secured to the rearward end of the tobacco receiving member and slidable therewith with respect to the base. The cover is pivotally movable from an open position to a closed position overlying the tobacco receiving member. The cover is substantially of the same width as the base and has a pair of opposed inner tongues engagable under a respective elongated flange which projects inside the open channel-shaped base from opposed side walls thereof when the tobacco receiving member is retracted rearwardly over the base. An arresting member is provided in the bottom wall of the machine to permit the loading of tobacco in tubes of different length.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,632,129 for a “Cigarette Making Machine,” issued on Dec. 30, 1986 to inventor Arnold Kastner, provides for a machine of lightweight, compact and economical construction that has an elongate base having formed on its upper surface at one end a tobacco receiving and compacting chamber and a cover having a tobacco compactor mounted on its lower surface pivotally mounted on the base and movable from open tobacco insertion position to closed tobacco compacting position where the tobacco compactor forms a cylindrical chamber in the recess. One end of the recess is closed by a removable plate carrying an injection nipple and tobacco formed in the cylindrical chamber is transferred by a reciprocally movable injection spoon through the nipple and into a preformed cigarette tube positioned on the nipple. The nipple and injection spoon are easily removable from the machine for cleaning or replacement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides cigarette-rolling kit system and method for forming a cigarette with shredded leaf enclosed in rolling paper. The cigarette-rolling kit provides a forming block having a major-arcuate trough and a semicircular trough, a pushing tab, a leveling slider, a tamping cylinder, and a leaf shreds preparation tool. The major-arcuate trough retains the forming cigarette and guides the initial rolling, and the semicircular trough guides the final rolling.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cigarette-rolling kit of the invention showing parts in place as used;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cigarette-rolling kit of the invention showing parts separately;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the forming block of the cigarette-rolling kit of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cigarette-rolling kit of the invention at a stage of use;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cigarette-rolling kit of the invention at a stage of use;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the cigarette-rolling kit of the invention at a stage of use;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cigarette-rolling kit of the invention at a stage of use;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the cigarette-rolling kit of the invention at a stage of use;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the cigarette-rolling kit of the invention at a stage of use;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the cigarette-rolling kit of the invention at a stage of use;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the cigarette-rolling kit of the invention at a stage of use;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the cigarette-rolling kit of the invention at a stage of use;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the cigarette-rolling kit of the invention at a stage of use;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the cigarette-rolling kit of the invention at a stage of use;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the cigarette-rolling kit of the invention at a stage of use;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the cigarette-rolling kit of the invention at a stage of use; and

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the cigarette-rolling kit of the invention at a stage of use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the cigarette-rolling kit 10 provides a forming block 1, a pushing tab 2, a leveling slide 3, a tamping cylinder 4, and a leaf-shreds preparation tool 5. The forming block 1 provides a major-arcuate trough 11 and a semicircular trough 12.

Referring additionally to FIG. 3, the forming block 1 is of substantially rectangular cuboid form, with an axial length which is long enough to accommodate the intended length of the cigarette plus a smaller additional length, as illustrated, to allow for the closed ends and the flared open ends of troughs as disclosed in detail below. The transverse section of the forming block 1 is substantially square, and has an area of substantially four times the cigarette diameter, which allows room for the two troughs, disclosed below, a sufficient amount of remaining face and internal material on either side of the troughs, and a sufficient amount of remaining internal material between the two troughs to maintain the structural integrity of the forming block 1.

Two troughs, a major-arcuate trough 11 and a semicircular trough 12, each running along the axial length, are placed on opposite faces of the forming block 1, as shown. The transverse diameter of each trough is substantially the intended diameter of the cigarette to be formed.

The semicircular trough 12 encloses a semicircle that has a diameter substantially the intended diameter of the cigarette to be formed, and creates an opening which matches that diameter. The semicircular trough 12 has a closed end which prevents the forming cigarette from slipping out, and a flared open end which guides the placement and removal of the cigarette.

The major-arcuate trough 11 encloses more than a semicircle, and therefore creates an opening along the face of the forming block 1 which is smaller than the intended diameter of the cigarette, resulting in a trough which tends to hold the contents of the trough within the trough, allowing the rolling paper and the enclosed shredded leaf to be rolled within the major-arcuate trough 11 without falling out. The major-arcuate trough 11 has a closed end that prevents the rolling paper and enclosed shredded leaf from slipping out and provides a resistance against which to apply tamping force, and has a flared open end which provides for easier, guided insertion and removal of objects. The smaller additional axial length, added to the intended length of the cigarette, provided in the axial length of the forming block 1, is the length of the pushing tab 2, and the closed end and flared open end of the major-arcuate trough 11. In the illustrated embodiment, and where the intended diameter of the cigarette is 10mm and the intended length of the cigarette is 70 mm, the substantially square transverse dimensions are approximately 20 mm each side and the axial length is approximately 78 mm, allowing 70 mm for the cigarette length plus 1 mm for the closed end, 1 mm for the pushing tab 2, and 6 mm for the flared open end.

In preferred embodiments the major-arcuate trough 11 has a central reflex angle of from 240 to 260 degrees, inclusive, which result in facial openings of a width which is from approximately 75% to approximately 85% the greatest width or diameter of the trough, which in turn substantially matches the intended diameter of the cigarette. The illustrated embodiment shows a central reflex angle of approximately 250 degrees. Where the intended cigarette diameter is 10 mm, and therefore the longest span of the major-arcuate trough 11 is substantially the same 10 mm, the opening on the face of the forming block 1 is approximately 80% or 8 mm at approximately 250 degrees, as illustrated.

A pushing tab 2 is provided, as illustrated, which has a lobe that fits into the major-arcuate trough 11 of the forming block 1 and can slide within the major-arcuate trough 11, and has another lobe extending from the forming block 1. The pushing tab 2 is used to push or eject the partially rolled cigarette from the major-arcuate trough 11 at the appropriate time, as treated below.

A leveling slider 3 is provided, as illustrated. The lower face of the leveling slider 3 has a stepped face corresponding to the opening of the major-arcuate trough 11 on the face of the forming block 1. Specifically, the lower face of the leveling slider 3 has a protruding tab which fits and protrudes slightly into the trough opening, allowing for the presence of rolling paper extending out of the trough opening, in use, as treated below. The leveling slider 3 is used to level, spread, and distribute shredded leaf which has been placed inside the rolling paper which has been placed inside the major-arcuate trough 11.

A tamping cylinder 4 is provided, as illustrated. The tamping cylinder 4 has a diameter slightly smaller than the intended diameter of the cigarette, which in turn is substantially the diameter of the major-arcuate trough 11. The tamping cylinder 4 is used to tamp or compress the shredded leaf within the partially rolled cigarette, as treated below.

A leaf shreds preparation tool 5 is provided, as illustrated. The leaf shreds preparation tool 5 facilitates the preparation and gathering of a portion of shredded leaf, and placement of shredded leaf into the rolling paper located within the major-arcuate trough of the forming block, as treated below.

Referring to FIG. 5, in use, the pushing tab 2 is placed within the major-arcuate trough 11 of the forming block 1, resting against the closed end. A piece of rolling paper is placed into the major-arcuate trough 11 by sliding into the flared open end of the trough. The rolling paper is positioned as illustrated, with a long flap and a short flap extending out of the opening. Using the leaf shreds preparation tool 5, a portion of the shredded leaf is prepared with whatever chopping, blending, or other preparation is needed, and the portion of shredded leaf is gathered and spread out upon the leaf shreds preparation tool 5 as illustrated, and is then placed into the portion of the rolling paper enclosed by the major-arcuate trough 11.

Optionally, a filter or similar item can be placed into the forming cigarette at this step or at subsequent steps.

Referring to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, in use, the leveling slider 3 is placed upon the face of the forming block 1 such that the protruding tab of the leveling slider 3 protrudes into the opening of the major-arcuate trough 11, and is moved along the opening to level and evenly distribute the shredded leaf.

Referring to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, in use, the short flap of the rolling paper is placed against the shredded leaf such as to allow rolling of the cigarette, and the rolling paper is rolled such as to bring the long flap over the short flap.

Referring to FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, in use, the rolling paper and the enclosed shredded leaf are further rolled within the major-arcuate trough 11, which holds the forming cigarette against premature ejection from the forming block 1 and guides the desired rolling motion.

Referring to FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, in use, after the forming cigarette is nearly completely rolled within the major-arcuate trough 11 of the forming block 1, the tamping cylinder 4 is used to tamp and compress the shredded leaf which is enclosed by the rolling paper.

Referring to FIG. 14, in use, the nearly completely rolled forming cigarette is ejected from the major-arcuate trough 11 by sliding the pushing tab 2 toward the flared open end of the trough.

Referring to FIG. 15, in use, the forming block 1 is repositioned such that the semicircular trough 12 is facing up, and the nearly completely rolled forming cigarette is placed into the semicircular trough 12 as illustrated.

Referring to FIG. 16 and FIG. 17, in use, the forming cigarette is further rolled inside the semicircular trough 12 until it is completely rolled, at which point it can be removed from the forming block 1, and the rolling process is finished.

Many other changes and modifications can be made in the system and method of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof. I therefore pray that my rights to the present invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims. 

I claim:
 1. A cigarette-rolling kit system for forming a cigarette, having an intended length and diameter, with shredded leaf enclosed in a rolling paper, the cigarette-rolling kit system comprising: (i) a forming block of substantially rectangular cuboid form with substantially square transverse section of area substantially four times the cigarette diameter, and axial length of the cigarette length plus a smaller additional axial length, having, along one axial face, a major-arcuate trough having a closed end and a flared open end, and, along an opposite axial face, a semicircular trough having a closed end and a flared open end, said major-arcuate trough and said semicircular trough being each adapted to hold the rolling paper and enclosed shredded leaf; (ii) a pushing tab having a lobe adapted to fit into and slide within said major-arcuate trough of said forming block, and another lobe adapted to extend from said forming block, said pushing tab adapted to eject the rolling paper and enclosed shredded leaf from said major-arcuate trough; (iii) a leveling slider having a stepped lower face corresponding to and adapted to slide along said major-arcuate trough of said forming block; (iv) a tamping cylinder of diameter smaller than the cigarette diameter, adapted to tamp the shredded leaf within the rolling paper; and (v) a leaf shreds preparation tool adapted to facilitate the preparation and gathering of a portion of shredded leaf, and placement of shredded leaf into the rolling paper located within said major-arcuate trough of said forming block; where, in use, said pushing tab is placed within and against the closed end of said major-arcuate trough of said forming block, the rolling paper is placed within said major-arcuate trough, the shredded leaf is prepared and gathered, and then placed into the rolling paper, using said leaf shreds preparation tool, said leveling slider is moved along said major-arcuate trough for the purpose of distributing and leveling the shredded leaf, the rolling paper is rolled within said major-arcuate trough, further enclosing the shredded leaf, the shredded leaf is tamped with said tamping cylinder, the partially rolled cigarette is removed from said major-arcuate trough using said pushing tab, is placed into said semicircular trough of said forming block, and is given further rolling to form the finished cigarette.
 2. The cigarette-rolling kit system of claim 1, where said major-arcuate trough has a central reflex angle of from 240 to 260 degrees, inclusive.
 3. The cigarette-rolling kit system of claim 1, where said major-arcuate trough has a central reflex angle of substantially 250 degrees.
 4. A cigarette-rolling kit method comprising: (i) providing a cigarette-rolling kit, comprising: (a) a forming block of substantially rectangular cuboid form with substantially square transverse section of area substantially four times the cigarette diameter, and axial length of the cigarette length plus a smaller additional axial length, having, along one axial face, a major-arcuate trough having a closed end and a flared open end, and, along an opposite axial face, a semicircular trough having a closed end and a flared open end, said major-arcuate trough and said semicircular trough being each adapted to hold the rolling paper and enclosed shredded leaf; (b) a pushing tab having a lobe adapted to fit into and slide within said major-arcuate trough of said forming block, and another lobe adapted to extend from said forming block, said pushing tab adapted to eject the rolling paper and enclosed shredded leaf from said major-arcuate trough; (c) a leveling slider having a stepped lower face corresponding to and adapted to slide along said major-arcuate trough of said forming block; (d) a tamping cylinder of diameter smaller than the cigarette diameter, adapted to tamp the shredded leaf within the rolling paper; and (e) a leaf shreds preparation tool adapted to facilitate the preparation and gathering of a portion of shredded leaf, and placement of shredded leaf into the rolling paper located within said major-arcuate trough of said forming block; (ii) placing said pushing tab within and against the closed end of said major-arcuate trough of said forming block; (iii) placing the rolling paper within said major-arcuate trough; (iv) preparing and gathering the shredded leaf using said leaf shreds preparation tool; (v) placing the shredded leaf into the rolling paper using said leaf shreds preparation tool; (vi) moving said leveling slider along said major-arcuate trough for the purpose of distributing and leveling the shredded leaf; (vii) rolling the rolling paper within said major-arcuate trough, further enclosing the shredded leaf; (viii) tamping the shredded leaf with said tamping cylinder; (ix) removing the partially rolled cigarette from said major-arcuate trough using said pushing tab; (x) placing the partially rolled cigarette into said semicircular trough of said forming block; and (xi) rolling the partially rolled cigarette further to form the finished cigarette.
 5. The cigarette-rolling kit method of claim 4, where said major-arcuate trough has a central reflex angle of from 240 to 260 degrees, inclusive.
 6. The cigarette-rolling kit method of claim 4, where said major-arcuate trough has a central reflex angle of substantially 250 degrees.
 7. The cigarette-rolling kit method of claim 4, further comprising placement of a filter into the forming cigarette. 